The Detroit Lions enter the 2026 season with a top-heavy wide receiver room, which could create a difficult situation for a fan-favorite player.
Wide receiver Tom Kennedy is one of the longest-tenured members of the team, with a long stretch on the practice squad before making some important contributions last season. Reporter Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports believes the Lions will take a light approach to their wide receiver room, leaving Kennedy and other skilled players on the wrong side of the roster bubble.
Lions Face Familiar Decision
Payton predicted that the Lions would keep just four wide receivers on their final roster — Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa and Greg Dortch. That means Kennedy will once again find himself fighting for a spot on the practice squad, Payton wrote.
“I know that sounds crazy, but I just can’t find a spot for a fifth guy,” Payton wrote. “Tom Kennedy is probably a practice squad player. Malik Cunningham has some appeal with the trick-play potential given his quarterback background, but I don’t see it. Dominic Lovett is a good gunner, but when Detroit drafted Kendrick Law, it felt like Lovett was out. Cedric Wilson got some good reps during OTAs and minicamp. He could sneak on. None of the new UFL guys are making it in my projection.”
A longtime member of the practice squad, Kennedy found his way to the active roster last season when a need arose on special teams.The 29-year-old appeared in six games, making four receptions for 36 yards on offense and returning three punts for 50 yards and 16 kickoffs for 447 yards. He earned a game ball in the team’s win over the Dallas Cowboys.
“I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am for Tom Kennedy,” said special teams coordinator Dave Fipp, via SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit. “I mean there’s nobody who deserves the attention and the recognition more than him in this building. I mean a guy who’s just worked his tail off every single day the whole time he’s been here. Never ever complained about the reps he’s getting, the opportunity he’s getting. Whether he knows he can do something better than maybe some other guy who’s getting his shot before him. And then for him to get the opportunity and then go out there and make the most of it, you’ve got to give him a lot of credit.”
Lions Could Have Role Carved Out for Greg Dortch
Though the Lions are set at the top of the depth chart with St. Brown and Williams expected to get the bulk of the targets, the veteran Dortch could also find a meaningful role. Richard Silva of the Detroit News predicted that Dortch could replace the departed Kalif Raymond, with rookie Kendrick Law earning another roster spot.
“Law’s addition in the fifth round makes for a competitive battle for the fifth spot on the depth chart between himself, Lovett and Kennedy, and don’t discount the big-bodied Meeks or veteran Cunningham,” Silva wrote. “We’re giving the edge to Law because of his aggressive nature as a run blocker and his skills with the ball in his hands, which were on display at Kentucky in 2025 (505 yards after the catch).”
Lions Expected to Part Ways With Fan-Favorite WR in Difficult Summer Decision